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Rusin puts rough inning behind him

3/21/14: Chris Rusin pitches five shutout innings, allowing just two hits while striking out three against the White Sox

By Carrie Muskat
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MLB.com |

MESA, Ariz. -- Cubs pitcher Chris Rusin doesn't remember giving up three home runs in a single game, let alone one inning. But that's what happened Wednesday in his outing against the D-backs.

The lefty, who was competing for the fifth spot in the rotation, served up nine runs on 10 hits, including four homers, over 2 2/3 innings. In his four previous outings, Rusin had given up three runs on six hits over 9 2/3 innings. He had started his last two games, but said that didn't make a difference.

"I came in relief after [Jeff] Samardzija against the Giants," he said of an outing March 10, when he threw three scoreless and hitless innings. "It wasn't different, it just wasn't a good day. You just have to get it out of your mind and erase it."

The timing wasn't good. The Cubs have yet to announce the pitchers to make the Opening Day roster. Rusin still has a chance as the fifth starter.

"It's always hard when you're trying to make a team, and you're trying to do your best out there and you give up nine runs in three innings, it's not going to feel too well, so you just kind of erase it," Rusin said.

The D-backs apparently weren't bothered by jet lag after their trip to Australia.

"I don't think I've given up that many homers in a game before that in one inning," Rusin said. "It was just a rough day."